The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1887-12-14
CHAPTER XVI.
nELDnE TILE SIAIIrE

Also, we were Officers OF the queens body
guard. and in that capacity had right to
cone and go unquestioned.
We gained the hall IN safety. SO empty
and so still was il that even when we had
passed. the sound Of our footsteps yet echoed
up the lofty walls, vibra ting family and still
more family against the cavern roof, like
ghosts of the footsteps Of dead men haunting
the place that once they trod.
Ii was an eerie spot, and it oppressed me.
The moon was full, and threw great pencils
aud patches OF light through the high, win
dowless openings In the walls, that lay pure
and beautiful upon the blackness of the mar
bic floor, like white flowers on a coffin. One
of these silver arrows fell upon the statue OF
the sleeping Rademas, and of tue angel form
bent over him, ilumining it, and small cir
Gle round IL, with n soft, clear light, remind
ing me of that which Catholics illumine the
affairs Of their cathedrals.
Here by the statue we took our stand and
wated-Sir Henry and close together, UNI
slopogaas some PAGES of In the darkness, SO
that could only just make out his towering
outline leaning on tho outline Of an AK.
SO long did we wait that / almost fell
asleep resting against the cold marble, but
was suddenly aroused by hearing Curtis give
n quick, catching breath. Then from far, far
far away there came IA little sound, as though
.he statues that lined the walls were whisper
ing to each other some message of the ages.
IL was the faint sweep Of "A ladys dress
Nearer it grew, and nearer yet We could
SEQ a figure steal from patch TO patch OF
moonlight, and oven hear the soft fall OF SAN
dalei feet Another second and i saw the
black silhouette of the old Zulu raise its arm
In mute salute. and Nyleptha was before us
Oh, how beautiful she looked us she paused
a moment Just within the circle OF the moon
Ightl Her hand was pressed upon her heart,
and her white bosom hcaved beneath H.
Round her head IA broidered scarf was loosely
thrown, partially shadowng the perfect face,
and thus rendering IL even more lovely; Tor
beauty, dependent ms it is TO q certain extent
upon the Imagination, is never 30 beautiful
rs when IL i half hid. There she stood, radi-
ant but half doubting, stately aud yet SO
sweet. IL was but q moment; but then and
there fell in love with her myself. and have
remained so TO this hour; for indeed she
looked more like an angel out Of heaven than
q loving, passionate, mortal woman. Low we
bowed before her, and then She spoke.
al have come" she whispered, "but 1t was
watched. The priests watch me. Sorais
watches me with those great eyes OF hers
Nv very guards are spies upon me-
Nasta watches me too. On, Leu MN oe care
fulr' and she stamped her foot Let him be
careful; am woman, and therefore nara
70 drive. Ay, and l am queen, 100 ana
can still avenge. Let him be careful, l say,
lest in place Of giving him my hand take
his head" and she ended the outburst VIVID u
little sob and then smiled up at US bewitch-
ingly and laughed. &,
"Thou didst bid me come hither, my Lord
Incubun Curtis had taught her to call him
SOL doubtless it is about business OF the
state, for know that thou art ever full OF
great ideas and plans for my welfare and my
peopless So. even as queen should nave
come. though greatly fear the dark alone;"
md again she laughed and gave him glance
from her gray eyes.
Al this point thought it wise to move
little. since secrets "of the state" should not
be made public property, but she would not
let mo go far, peremptorily stopping me
within five yards or SO, saying that she feared
surprise. SO il came TO pass that, however
unwilingly, l heard all that passed.
Thou knowest, Nyleptha," said Sir henry,
s.that IL was for none of these things that
asked thee TO me at this lonely place. Nylep-
tina. waste not tho time in pleasantly, but
listen TO me, for-I love thee"
AS ho said the words l saw her face break
no. as it were, and change The coquetry
went out of it, and in it, place there shone
GREAT light of love, which seemed to glorify
il. and make it like that Of tho marble angel
overhead. could not help thinking that It
must have been touch Of prophetic instinct
which made the long dead Rademas linn III
the features OF the angel OF his inspiring VS.
ION SO strange likeness of his own descend
ant. Sir Henry also must have observed ana
been struck by the likeness, for, catching the
look upon Nyleptha's face, he glanced quickly
from il to the moonit statue, and then back
again at his beloved.
Thou sayest thou dost love me-" she said,
Ia a low voice, land thy voice rings true; but
how am to know that thou dost speak the
TRUTH Though she went on, with proud hui
mility. and In the stately third person which
Is SO largely used by the Zu-Vendi, II be as
nothing in the eyes Of my lord'-and she
courtesied towards him-"who comes from
among q wonderful people, to whom my peo'
PIE are but children, yet here am a queen
and leader of men, and II would go to
battle hundred thousand spears shall sparkle
in my train like stars glimmering down the
path of the bent moon. And although my
beauty he n little thing in the OF my lord"
and she lifted her broidered skirt and cour-
tested again--"yet here among my own peo-
pie am held right fair; and ever since was
a woman the great lords Of my kingdom have
made quarrel concerning me, as though, for
soo,h.n she added, with flash Of passion,
az were n deer to be pulled down by the
buncriest wolf, or a horse to be sold to the
highest bidder. Let my lord pardon me il
weary my lord, but it hath pleased my lord
TO say that he loves me, Nyleptha, queen OF
the Zu-Vendi; and therefore would l say, that
though my love and my hand be not much
to my lord, yet to me are they ALL"
aOhIr she cried, with sudden and thrillil 6
change Of voice, and u odifying her dignified
mode OF address-"oh, how can ! know that
thou lowest hut met How can know that
thou wilt not weary of me and seek thine own
place again, leaving me desolatef who Is
there TO tell me but that thou lowest some
other woman. some fair woman unknown to
me, but who yet draws breath beneath this
same moon that shines on me tonight! Tell
me how am to knowf' And she clasped her
hands and stretched them out towards him,
and looked appealingly into his face.
"Nyleptha," answered Sir Henry, adopting
the Zu- Vendi way Of speech, IL have told thee
that love thee; how am to tell thee how
much love theei Is there, then, measure
for lovel Yet wild try. l say MT that
have never looked upon another woman with
favor, but this l say, that love thee with all
my life and with all my strength; that love
thee now, and shall love thee till grow cold
In death, aye, and as l believe, beyond my
death, and on and on forever; ! say that thy
voice is music to my ear, and thy touch a.
wafer u u lhlsty land; that when thou art
there the world Is beautiful, aud when SEQ
thee not 1t Is as though the light was dead.
Oh. Nyleptha, will never leave theei Here
and now, for thy dear sake, will forget my
people and my fathers house; yea, renounce
them all. By thy side will live, Nylcptha,
and at thy side will die"